Dispute Resolution: Mexico

This leading global firm plays an important role in a number of sectors in Mexico and has a large dispute resolution practice. The team operates from several locations across the country and is able to call upon resources from its worldwide network of offices. It handles a range of civil, commercial and administrative litigation cases and has considerable experience of cross-border disputes. Its client portfolio is strongly weighted towards foreign clients and features big-name companies and financial entities. Clients say: "We were attracted by the firm's strong reputation at both a local and international level. The lawyers here always put the interests of the client before their own and offer a high-quality service." Javier Navarro-Velasco leads the department from the Monterrey office. He recently represented a number of clients from the power, tourism and oil and gas sectors.  

This traditional, full-service firm is at the vanguard of developments in many legal areas in Mexico. It has a very strong dispute resolution practice and has well-honed expertise in both arbitration and litigation. The teams has considerable experience of representing the firm's local and multinational clients in complex cross-border cases. It recently advised a Mexican manufacturing company on a commercial procedure against PEMEX in connection with the rescission of several contracts. Eduardo Siqueiros is widely regarded by sources as one of the country's foremost arbitration experts. He acts as counsel and arbitrator and recently represented a European company in an arbitration proceeding seeking damages for an alleged breach of contract. Luis Omar Guerrero Rodríguez assists clients with both litigation and arbitration matters. He handles a high volume of cases and sources praise his hard-working approach.

Basham, Ringe y Correa is one of the country's best-known law firms and assists clients with a broad spectrum of legal services. The dispute resolution practice group represents clients in all aspects of litigation, bankruptcy, reorganisation proceedings and the enforcement of foreign judgments in Mexico. It regularly acts as counsel on commercial, civil and criminal litigation matters. Its notable client list includes international publishing firms and manufacturing companies. Ricardo Hernández is the primary contact for clients.

This long-standing boutique has a strong focus on litigation and specialises in civil, commercial and insurance-related cases. The compact team has a strong reputation in the market and is experienced in advising on complex multi-jurisdictional mandates. Its diverse client base includes local and international companies from the manufacturing, food and drink and insurance sectors. The team recently represented several clients in negotiations to try and overturn ICC arbitration decisions. Miguel Ángel Hernández-Romo Valencia is a well-respected litigator and is praised for his courtroom skills.

This boutique firm has well-established litigation skills and is fast gaining a reputation for its arbitration expertise. The team handles commercial and criminal litigation and regularly appears in local and ICC arbitration hearings. Its clients include multinational financial entities and companies from the construction and telecoms industries. Sources praise the team's client service skills and its extensive knowledge and experience. Department head Rodrigo Zamora Etcharren devotes the majority of his time to arbitration, but also advises on litigation matters. He is routinely involved in high-profile cases as both counsel and arbitrator and is a well-regarded figure in the market. Sources say: "This young lawyer is dedicated, studious and very intelligent."  

This international firm has offices around the world and assists clients with a gamut of legal matters. The Mexico outpost is a player in a number of sectors in the local market, such as capital markets, corporate/M&A and projects. It houses a strong dispute resolution team which advises a prestigious, largely foreign client base and regularly appears in complicated cross-border cases. An ongoing highlight includes representing PEMEX in one of the most important arbitration cases in Mexico. Luis Enrique Graham is a vastly experienced lawyer and a well-known figure in the field. He acts as counsel in litigation and arbitration cases and as an arbitrator in local and ICC hearings.  

This highly respected boutique is visible on many of the country's most significant litigation and arbitration proceedings. Emilio González de Castilla Jr is widely regarded as one of the best litigation and arbitration lawyers in Mexico. During his 25-year career he has participated in high-profile arbitration and litigation cases as counsel and arbitrator. De Castilla stands out for his commitment, expertise and analytical skills, according to sources.

This mid-sized firm specialises in dispute resolution and assists clients with civil, commercial and administrative cases, as well as bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings. It has offices across Mexico and also has an office in California. It attracts high-calibre local and international clients, such as Banco do Brasil, Wells Fargo and BAT. It has been active in the market for over 20 years and has grown considerably in size during this time. Founding partner Jaime Guerra González is the standout name at the firm. He is a highly experienced litigator and one of Mexico's go-to lawyers for bankruptcy and restructuring disputes. 

This well-reputed firm is an important player for litigation matters in Mexico and enjoys an excellent reputation in the market. The highly regarded litigation team advises on bankruptcy disputes and has participated in significant recent proceedings in this area. The firm's experience and expertise attracts big-name clients, including a number of well-known financial entities. Fernando Hegewisch Diaz Infante is a well-respected figure in litigation circles.

This dispute resolution-focused firm has featured in highly significant dispute resolution proceedings and excels in both arbitration and litigation. Carlos Loperena Ruiz is a well-known figure in the market and a former president of the Mexican Bar Association. Sources offer glowing praise for his work as arbitrator and as counsel in arbitration and litigation cases. He is a "hands-on lawyer and a tough opponent with excellent technical skills," enthuse sources.

This firm has offices in Mexico City and Monterrey and is a leader for litigation matters. The team has a long-standing track record of representing local and international banks in high-end financial litigation dispute. Senior partner Roberto Martínez Guerrero is a highly regarded figure in the local dispute resolution field. Source say: "Martínez Guerrero has been in the business for a long time and has a great deal of experience. He is thorough in his work and very responsive." Sources praise senior litigator Ernesto Algaba Berlanga for his combative style, while Jorge De Haro González is highlighted for his litigation skills and related advice on insurance and bankruptcy and restructuring matters.

This large firm is a corporate powerhouse and houses a dispute resolution department with a strong corporate focus. The department handles civil, commercial and administrative cases and advises an eye-catching client portfolio that includes local telecoms giants, international financial entities and big-name companies from a diverse range of industries. The team has latterly been busy advising on bankruptcy proceedings, debt collections and IP-related disputes. Clients say: "The lawyers here work well as a team and are very efficient and quick in responding to our queries. They are dependable and offer an excellent service." Partner Carlos Malpica is a well-known figure in the market. He has a broad litigation practice and consistently appears on important cases. In a recent highlight, he advised a multinational construction company in connection with a high-value tender.

This firm has offices in Mexico City and Cancún and has strong litigation and IP practices. The litigation department acts as counsel to a primarily North American client portfolio that features high-profile companies from the telecoms, banking and tyre industries. The team participates in significant litigation cases and has considerable experience of handling complex multi-jurisdictional mandates. It recently represented a number of clients in disputes against the Mexican government. The team is also acting for Bridgestone in a long-running cross-border litigation. Founding partner Alfonso Sepúlveda is a well-respected figure in the market. Sources say: "Sepúlveda is a very good lawyer, who is not afraid to take on challenging cases. He is very intelligent, hands-on and a tough opponent to face in litigation."

This boutique firm is a significant player for arbitration in Mexico. The compact team of lawyers has considerable experience of acting as counsel and arbitrators in local and international cases and represents clients from the car, food and infrastructure sectors. Cecilia Azar Manzur is a future star in the arbitration field, according to market sources. She has already presided over a number of important cases and impresses sources with her diligent and proactive approach. Partner Elsa Ortega has over a decade's worth of legal experience and routinely appears in local and international arbitration cases. She has acted as secretary in arbitrations administered by the ICC and the Netherlands Arbitration Institute.

Since publication, Cecilia Azar Manzur has joined Azar Abogados

PwC is one of the world's leading accountancy firms and has offices in 19 locations across Mexico. It is particularly strong in tax litigation and has the resources to take on a high volume of cases in this field. The team regularly appears in civil, criminal and administrative cases and has an impressive client portfolio that includes local and foreign companies from the oil and gas, retail and technology sectors. Eduardo Méndez Vital leads a team of around 100 lawyers. He has considerable experience of representing high-profile clients in complex tax litigation cases.

This renowned boutique is one of the best names for litigation in the country. It houses an experienced and well-respected team which advises on the full spectrum of litigation matters. It has an impressive client portfolio that includes local telecoms giants and international financial service providers. It has had a busy year handling a number of bankruptcy proceedings and other significant litigation cases. In a recent highlight, the team represented a creditor in connection with the repayment of a loan for a large-scale real estate development. Xavier Cortina is widely regarded as one of the country's foremost litigators and advises a host of prestigious clients. Javier Quijano Baz is another one of the country's leading litigators. He appears on a number of high-profile cases and is regarded as a tough opponent by sources.  

This established firm specialises in litigation and is particularly active in civil and commercial litigation matters. It is based in Monterrey and regularly assists clients with cross-border litigation in the USA. It has a diverse and largely local client base that includes companies from the alcoholic beverages, car and financial services industries. It has experience of appearing on significant cases and is currently mitigating on behalf of a number of clients in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Arturo Juan Quintero Treviño leads the team of 16 lawyers and is the main contact for clients.  

This firm is based in Mexico City and benefits from a team of in-house economists which provides economic and investment banking advisory services. The arbitration team rises in the ranking this year due to its involvement in a number of high-value arbitration hearings and effusive market feedback. Clients praise the firm's commercial awareness and client service and cite its multidisciplinary capabilities as an important pull factor. Luis Alberto Aziz Checa leads the department. He represents a large number of clients in the food and drink and oil industries in local and ICC arbitration cases. Partner Lucía Ojeda debuts in the ranking this year. She has recently acted as counsel in a number of arbitration cases and is popular with clients. She also advises on competition/antitrust matters.

This prestigious full-service firm has a visible and well-respected dispute resolution department. It has a broad practice which includes advising clients on breaches of contract, shareholder disputes and IP issues. The firm attracts high-profile local and international companies, such as Siemens, Grupo Industrial Monclova and Mitsui. Department head Fernando del Castillo has a wealth of experience of appearing in high-profile litigation and arbitration hearings. Sources hail him as "intelligent, bilingual and knowledgeable on both local and international law." Cecilia Flores Rueda focuses her practice on arbitration and regularly acts as counsel and arbitrator.

Since publication, Cecilia Flores Rueda has joined Haynes and Boone, LLP

This mid-sized firm assists clients with a broad range of litigation matters, including the recovery of loans, IP issues and bankruptcy proceedings. It also represents clients in local and ICC arbitration hearings. Its diverse client base also features companies from the energy, financial services, and entertainment sectors. In a recent highlight, the team advised Spanish multinational Abengoa and the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). Clients say: "The firm gets an A-plus for client service as its lawyers are available 24 hours a day to provide advice. They are always up to date with the latest market developments and are excellent for cross-border work." Founding partner Fernando Pérez-Correa Camarena advises on matters related to bankruptcy and dispute resolution. He appears on high-profile cases and receives positive feedback from clients.  

This firm is one of the leaders in the dispute resolution field in Mexico. The experienced team has extensive experience of arbitration and litigation matters and presents a large number of international clients in cross-border mandates. Sources say: "This is a very high-quality firm that houses an excellent team of well-trained lawyers." Claus von Wobeser is one of the market's go-to lawyers for arbitration matters. He has a wealth of experience acting as counsel and arbitrator, particularly in cross-border disputes. He also handles some litigation matters.